Can medical devices improve patient care in rural healthcare systems? In this episode of the Biomedical Frontiers podcast, Aileen Helsel, MD, director of Innovation at Carilion Clinic, shares how her team of engineers works with Carilion’s clinical teams to develop new medical devices that solve unique challenges in rural settings. The podcast is produced on behalf of the UVA School of Medicine’s Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research.
Rural patients often travel long distances for care – making management of time sensitive emergencies and recurring visits for chronic condition management particularly challenging. Dr. Helsel highlights three projects: (1) a wearable lymphedema therapy device; (2) an early detection system for ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures; and (3) an arm positioning device that is improving outcomes and reducing time in surgery. Each of these devices was conceptualized at the bedside (or in the operating room) and brought to life with the expertise and passion of a physician.
As director of Innovation at Carilion Clinic, Dr. Helsel partners with physicians, nurses, and therapists on the front lines to help solve their most pressing challenges. Dr. Helsel shares how her team collaborates with a human factors group and a simulation center to test prototypes in realistic settings. Dr. Helsel believes that solving targeted problems in rural healthcare can yield scalable solutions that benefit the broader medical community.
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